Here are my recollections of how I first entered the Stock Market and the Precious Metals market, investing a couple hundred here, a couple hundred there, along with the mistakes I had made and the successes I enjoyed.

Where Are They Now?

After the controversial Bank Bailout of 2008, today there is talk about bailing out The Big Three, America's current big name automobile manufacturers, Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Two hundred eighty-eight years of service to the public is a lot to throw away if we don't, isn't it?

But before you break out the crying towel, take a look at some statistics.

A Little Automaking History

What do the following companies have in common - Rambler (1958-1969), LaSalle (1927-1940) and Rolls Royce (1921-1935)? They are American automobile manufacturers having been in business 10-15 years that are now defunct.

American Motors (aka AMC) (1966-1987) and Duesenberg (1913-1937) - gone after 20-25 years in business.

Packard (1899-1958), Studebaker (1902-1966), Checker (1922-1982) and International Harvester (1907-1975) never to make autos for the US again, after 50-70 years of doing so.

And finally, REO (1905-1975) and White (1902-1981) have put in 70-80 years of auto making - defunct.

Where Are They Today?

Are you familiar with any of those auto companies? Well, they're all gone. In fact, according to wikipedia article "List of defunct United States automobile manufacturers," over 1800 US auto makers are no longer in business, with more than a thousand having seven years or less in the auto industry.

The Big Three are not the first US automakers to face financial failure, and they won't be the last.

Maybe some of the 1800 automakers might still be here if the Gov't had "bailed them out?".

Well, maybe cut down your long-term horizon from 10-15 years to 3-5 max, and try to time buys, and sell after a certain percentage gain. If you don't lock in the profit, what's the point? 10 years of gains - poof. It's not even a unique situation. Unique to this generation, yes, but overall - not so unique.

I know timing the market and selling are not the definition of investing....

You stumped me.

Don't even know what to do long term for ourselves. Probably that's exactly what we'll try to do - time and sell after a decent profit, and not hang onto the stocks for dear life, because "that's what the books say".